The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-17
A VERY QUIET MAN.
Lady Perdocks Opinion Of Modest
Captain Armstrong.

Mrs. Cardewc stopped at our house one
day ard said:
'Lucy, wish your husband could spare
you to come to the manor for few days.
~ dare say he could, ma'am,'' l replied
Its not far, and our little maid gets on
with the children very handy"
"Well, ask him." she said. "Because Mr.,
Cardewe and are expecting some friends
and you might help me. You have not for
cotton your old business, supposer' she
asked, smiling.
curtsied. and said: "No, could man.
age hair-dr'ssing and So on very well as
iady's mnid-ifwanted."
ut Is rather to 10 =. after Lady Pardock's 8
little boy" replied Mrs Cardewe "He is
an only child-the heir to the property-and
must have trustworthy person with him.
He has an attendant of course, but the
nurse had been obliged to 90 home, under.
stand. Will you come for a week or so!"
said would, and Mrs. Cardewe seemed
pleased.
II will write and tell Lady Pardock," she
said. "'Shc VIII not come unless her child
Is In good hands. and con now assure her. "
4 curtsied again. and thanked her for her
good opinion, She nodded pleasantly and
drove away, saying:
"On Tuesday, then"
When Charley came back to tea he gave
me leave to go. and laughed about my leav-
ing my own children to look after the only
child OF Lady Padrock, who was the widow
OF tho great barrister, the gentleman who
had found the heir to the Norfolk estate.
'Whcn arc you going to the manor!" he
asked.
ION Tuesday. Charley-this is Friday-so
there's plenty of time.
The company began to arrive at the manor
on the Monday. There were to be fourteen
guests, but l needn't name them ALL Mr..
Hemphill and the Martyn-H -Henrys were in
vitcd at separate times-but nc remained
longer than he had at first intended-.and
there was Captain in the navy retired
ofacer named Armstrong. who wore q beard
Like the Duke Of Edinburgh. He was a
nice, plain-spoken gentleman-very quiet,
and never seemed to put himself out for any
one. He had been asked to meet Mr.. Hemp
hill who had o yacht and was somewhat
nautical.
Lndy Pardock came, with nursemaid-
a plain, rather silly-looIring, affectionate
girl-and the heir He was seven years
old; sturdy. bold boy; independent, but
as obedient as have never seen q lad so
young. His mothers word was enough;
he did as he was hidden without question
ing or fretfulness. The young heir seemed
TO like the sailor captain, who was full of
anecdotes and stories, but Lady Pardock
seemed to despise him little She was
lhne, handsome woman; tall, well made and
well dressed. There was nt times dreamy
Hook IN her eyes, as if she we're thinking of
the past or contemplating the future. She
twas very energetic, though, and could
walk, ride, row, or sail boat as well as
many men.
She and Captain Henry were good friends.
She was interested in his mining and was
quite as ready to go down the mine as she
was to sail in Mr.. Hemphilrs yacht, the
Firehy.
"You are, Of course, a grea. traveller,
Captain Armstrong;" she said one day to
the sailor. (We heard good deal, w
know, through the butler and other men
servants, and saw a good deal of Lady
tPardock, and sometimes she talked to me-
'No," he replied, carelessly ~ have
been about the world-nvt much in il. A
sailor sees good deal, and there is some-
thing worth seeing occasionally, too.-
Shave you ever been in battle.r she
asked again.
"Never, / an thankful to say" he re-
Piled
''You are surely-not-not seriousw she
said
II am quito serious-I dread q battle, or
course, should fight if l had to do so-but
trust never shall"
II wonder you entered the navy, Captain
Armstrong" she half snecred. .:Ym
should hnvc been a Quaker"
''It was not my own choice, Lady Par
dock" he answered.
she would make an excellent couut-v
parson." she remarked To her neighbor,
Captain Martyn-Henry; and very soon
afterward the ladies left tho dining room.
From TINT time Lady Pardock seemed to
think the sailor what Charley calls ga
mum" He walked and sometimes shot
with the party in the stubbies-or helped
in tableaus, but mover shone much in anv
way. When Charley came in used to tell
him about tho Captain
"Yon know nothing about it, he would
say. ''Captain Armstrong shoots right
straight; IL no don't fire often he always
kille in q worle'nan-like way and doesn't
manglc the birds. What do you know
about him.'
J ''Not much, indeed: but ne doesn't seem
to care much for any thing, and is very
quiet"
! ''So you think he's .mufr O. vou
women! Because q man doesn't boas, and !
swell about like turlscy-cock, you think
he's got no spirit in him."
( ''Wc!l, Charley, no one could possib,v
think hc had any spirit. He's as mild as |
milk"
! "Bah" was all my husband said So I |
turned away and went indoors to nv charge
Sir Joceiyn. He was o dear little fellow
and we got ON very well together. He wss |
obedience itself, set fulloffun. There were
excursions and boating parties, and, when
Mr.. Hemphilrs yacht came in, plenty Of |
sailing. This delighted lady Pardocls, who
many > time went with me. Jocclyn, Mr. |
Hemphill md Mrs. Cardewe and her hus-
band.
| Ono day we started to Lulworth cove
Thsy ~ had heard OF Il, but few had ever |
,eeea tAepe. tho wia1 wss bloWing briskly |
fxeo Tie southeast-s fsvosabis quarter,
Isa1. = M Hsnphill said; III Il does veer
= ~ southvask al ~ better; II viii
s19 - - ths faster"